Kokomo Schools to launch Virtual Academy
Also, KHA to review director's performance; Seiberling visits free on Juneteenth; Community First names new branch manager; park band season starts June 7
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The Kokomo School Corporation Board of School Trustees has approved the Kokomo Virtual Academy, for the 2023-2024 school year. The announcement was made at the regular monthly meeting June 5.
“Kokomo School Corporation officials have identified an additional program to enhance, as well as increase, our current educational options for our high school students – the Kokomo Virtual Academy,” KSC Superintendent, Dr. Michael Sargent, explained. “We are committed to providing our students with the best education possible, and the Kokomo Virtual Academy is another step towards achieving that goal.
“The academy will offer students a highly qualified alternative learning experience that meets the Indiana Academic Standards while providing them with schedule flexibility through an online platform.”
Kokomo School Corporation (KSC) will offer a full-time virtual learning program for interested grade 9-12 students through the Kokomo Virtual Academy (KVA). The Kokomo Virtual Academy is a separate school from Kokomo High School. KVA curriculum can be accessed synchronously or asynchronously.
Virtual classrooms are equipped with advanced camera systems. Cameras also follow the teacher allowing virtual students to view live or recorded lessons taught in a classroom setting. This synchronous online learning environment more closely replicates an in-person classroom experience.
Students also have an asynchronous option though KSC’s Edmentum program. Students can work at their own pace individually. Students have a full curriculum to choose from and can combine both synchronous and/or asynchronous classes.
“We believe that the Kokomo Virtual Academy will be an excellent resource for our high school students who are looking for schedule flexibility and a personalized learning experience,” KSC Director of Secondary Education and Special Programs, Dr. Teni Helmberger, commented. “We are excited to see the positive impact that this new academy will have on our students and our community.”
Enrollment for the Kokomo Virtual Academy is open to any student grades 9-12. Students can enroll online at kokomoschools.com.
Kokomo Housing Authority to meet in executive session
There will be an Executive Session of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Kokomo, Indiana, on Thursday, June 8, in the Walnut Room at 400 E. Walnut St. at 4 p.m., pursuant to IC 5-14-1.5-6.1 to discuss the evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer.
Historical Society honors Juneteenth with free admission
Howard County Historical Society (HCHS) will celebrate Juneteenth (June 19), recognized as a federal holiday observing the end of slavery, with free entry to the museum on Saturday, June 17, from 1-4 p.m. This offers a great opportunity to see the exhibition Howard County African American History Revealed, located on the second and third floors. Visitors are encouraged to share a story about the Carver Neighborhood in the Story Kiosk on the second floor and learn about African American history in Howard County.
The day’s name is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” commemorating the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement by Union Army Major General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas. It is also known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.
While President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in Texas and the other states in rebellion against the Union almost two and a half years earlier, there was little enforcement of the proclamation without troops. Texas was the most remote of the slave states with few Union troops, so enforcement there had been slow and inconsistent before Granger’s announcement. It is on this date that slavery finally ended across all states and territories.
The Seiberling Mansion and Museum is open Tues-Sun from 1-4 p.m. Tickets are available online or in person. $10 for adults/$5 for K-12 students/free for five and under. For more information, contact the Howard County Historical Society office at 765-452-4314 or go to www.hchistory.org.
Community First announces new branch manager
After nine years as the downtown Kokomo branch manager of Community First Bank (CFB), Tracy Brown has accepted the new role of Treasury Management Sales Officer effective May 15. Tracy will continue to work out of the bank’s main office at 201 W. Sycamore St. in Kokomo but will shift her focus to providing businesses with solutions to optimize their financial operations.
She shared, “I’m excited for this opportunity to continue to grow professionally at CFB. This new role will allow me to reach out to businesses who may not have a relationship with the bank yet and introduce them to our helpful customer service and top-notch products to optimize cash flow, increase efficiency, manage information, and reduce financial risk.”
Tracy has 18 years of banking experience and has been with CFB since 2008. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Literacy Coalition’s board of directors, as well as Vice President of the Kokomo Community Development Corporation’s board of directors. To learn more about the bank’s Treasury Management products, visit CFBindiana.com/treasury-management.
As part of this transition, Ryan Pettit will step into the role of Downtown Kokomo Branch Manager. Ryan has been with CFB since 2021 and brings 19 years of banking experience to the team. Most recently acting as Branch Manager in the bank’s Hamilton and Marion County markets, he is looking forward to returning to work in the city he calls home.
Ryan takes pride in building lasting relationships with his clients and working with them to achieve their unique financial goals. “I seek to bring value to each client’s financial well-being by giving personal attention. Being a part of a local bank that believes in providing exceptional financial products and outstanding customer service like Community First Bank gives me the opportunity to do this,” said Ryan.
Park band season starts June 7
The Kokomo Park Band will open its 2023 Summer Concert Season in Highland Park on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. The opening concert kicks off the KPB’s 121st Summer Concert Season.
The program, “Summer Breezes,” will be conducted by KPB Artistic Director Jay Gephart and is sponsored by Caron and Jones Dental Care. Indianapolis Symphony Tubist Tony Kniffen, vocalist Sally Duke, and the Retired Rum Runners Traditional Jazz Band will be featured. The Serving in Love Team of Morning Star Church will provide popcorn and drinks. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to the Kokomo High School Auditorium.
This year marks Jay Gephart’s ninth season as Artistic Director of the Kokomo Park Band. He continues to serve as the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands and Orchestras and brings a wealth of experience to the audience and musicians. Last summer, Maestro Gephart accepted an invitation to conduct the very prestigious Wheaton Municipal Band in Illinois. Earlier last year he guest-conducted the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band at the American Bandmasters Association Convention. This summer, besides leading the KPB, he will also serve as Program Administrator of the American Band College at Central Washington University.
“We are quite fortunate to have Jay Gephart as our conductor” says Keith Whitford, KPB’s Manager. “The band and the community are looking forward to the variety and diversity of the music he has chosen for this summer’s performances.”
While Tony Kniffen is the featured soloist on KPB’s opening concert on June 7, he has enjoyed playing in the band’s tuba section on numerous occasions over the last several years. Kniffen has served as Principal Tubist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1997. Prior to his appointment with the ISO, Tony performed with the Honolulu Symphony, winning that job at age 20 while still a sophomore in college.
A graduate of Indiana University, Tony has also performed with the Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minnesota, New Mexico and St. Louis symphony orchestras. He will perform “Carnival of Venice.” The selection has been a “show-off’ piece dating back to the late 1800’s displaying the virtuoso skills of violinist Niccolo Paganini and cornetist Herbert L. Clarke.
The concert will open with “Four Winds Overture” by Robert Sheldon who is a past guest conductor of the KPB. He is concert band editor for the Alfred Publishing Company, and is conductor of the Prairie Wind Ensemble, a widely acclaimed community band in central Illinois. His composition depicts four moods represented by types of wind. The opening section is gentle and flowing. The next is calm and still. The third mood is a jubilant celebration that leads to a majestic conclusion.
Other selections that represent the theme “Summer Breezes” include “Summer Nights” by Robert W. Smith, “Flashing Winds” by Jan Van der Roost, “Gently Blows the Summer Wind,” by Randall Standridge, “Northwind March,” by W. Paris Chambers, “One with the Wind,” by Matthew Conaway and “Earth, Wind and Fire in Concert,” arranged by Richard Saucedo. The band will also perform "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" by John Walter and Jimmy Kennedy. Vocalist Sally Duke will be featured in George and Ira Gershwin’s “They Can’t Take that Away from Me.”
The Retired Rum-Runners Traditional Jazz Band is a sextet of KPB members that performs New Orleans-inspired jazz with or without the rest of the band. They will perform the 1919 hit, “Royal Garden Blues,” by Clarence Williams and Spencer Williams. Musicians include Neil Broeker on clarinet, Greg Miller on tenor sax, Bruce Knepper on trumpet, John Huntoon on trombone, Bill Rowe on tuba and Art Reiner on drums.
Concerts are produced with the support of the Kokomo Parks Department, Community Foundation of Howard County, Indiana Arts Commission, Center Township Trustee, The Arts Federation, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation. The majority of the band's funding depends on donations from individuals. Contributions may be sent to Kokomo Park Band, P.O. Box 6039, Kokomo, IN 46904-6039 or may be made online at www.kokomoparkband.org.